- Gait with horizontal head turns _____
Instructions: Begin walking at your normal pace. When I tell you to “look right,” keep
walking straight, but turn your head to the right. Keep looking to the right until I tell you,
“look left,” then keep walking straight and turn your head to the left. Keep your head to the
left until I tell you “look straight,“ then keep walking straight, but return your head to the
center.
Grading: Mark the lowest category that applies.
(3) Normal: Performs head turns smoothly with no change in gait.
(2) Mild Impairment: Performs head turns smoothly with slight change in gait velocity,
i.e., minor disruption to smooth gait path or uses walking aid.
(1) Moderate Impairment: Performs head turns with moderate change in gait velocity,
slows down, staggers but recovers, can continue to walk.
(0) Severe Impairment: Performs task with severe disruption of gait, i.e., staggers
outside 15” path, loses balance, stops, and reaches for wall.
- Gait with vertical head turns _____
Instructions: Begin walking at your normal pace. When I tell you to “look up,” keep
walking straight, but tip your head up. Keep looking up until I tell you, “look down,” then
keep walking straight and tip your head down. Keep your head down until I tell you “look
straight,“ then keep walking straight, but return your head to the center.
Grading: Mark the lowest category that applies.
(3) Normal: Performs head turns smoothly with no change in gait.
(2) Mild Impairment: Performs head turns smoothly with slight change in gait velocity,
i.e., minor disruption to smooth gait path or uses walking aid.
(1) Moderate Impairment: Performs head turns with moderate change in gait velocity,
slows down, staggers but recovers, can continue to walk.
(0) Severe Impairment: Performs task with severe disruption of gait, i.e., staggers
outside 15” path, loses balance, stops, and reaches for wall.
